THE ACOUSTIC STARTLE RESPONSE IN HIGH- AND LOW-HOSTILES AS A FUNCTION OF PAIN-STRESS
Journal Title: Acta Neuropsychologica - Year 2015, Vol 13, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Highly hostile individuals exhibit exaggerated physiological responses to stressors that are associated with cardiovascular disease and premature death. Evidence that high-hostiles have altered right hemispheric functioning has lead to a right hemisphere model of hostility. The Acoustic Startle Response (ASR) has been used to examine individual differences in emotional state and trait and can be potentiated by aversive stimuli. In this experiment, we hypothesized that high-hostiles would have larger ASRs when compared to low-hostiles, and would experience ASR potentiation follow-ing a cold pressor (CP).Material/Methods: Forty high- and low-hostile undergraduate men heard acoustic startle probes before and after a CP. ASRs were measured using electromyography (EMG) of the orbicularis occuli. A 2 X 2 mixed factorial ANOVA was conducted with Group (high- and low-hostile) as the between-subjects factor, Condition (pre- and post-CP) as the within-subjects factor, and EMG magnitude (mV) of the ASR as the dependent variable.Results: A significant Group main effect indicated larger ASRs in high-hostiles. A significant Group X Condition interaction was found. There were no significant group differences before the CP, but low-hostiles’ ASR decreased significantly after the CP, while high-hostiles’ ASR did not change significantly.Conclusions: High-hostiles’ ASR failed to habituate, indicating a fixed and exaggerated physiological response to stressors on the reflex level. Low levels of hostility may be associated with a more flexible and reduced physiological response to stressors.
Authors and Affiliations
Philip Klineburger, David Harrison
Keywords
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